Simple
Opens instantly to a blank page. Type and save.
TextEdit alternative
The free, open-source TextEdit alternative for Mac.
TextEdit is fine for a quick note, but it defaults to rich text and knows nothing about Markdown. kayet is a free upgrade for plain text: Markdown preview, tabs, a file tree and search.
kayet vs TextEdit at a glance
| kayet | TextEdit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paid tiers | Free, built into macOS |
| Source code | Open source (Apache 2.0) | Closed source |
| Where your text lives | Plain files in any folder you pick | Files (rich text by default) |
| Platforms | macOS on Apple Silicon | Mac |
| Default format | Plain text and Markdown | Rich text (RTF) |
| Markdown preview | Live split pane | — |
| Syntax highlighting | By file extension | — |
| Workspace search | ⌘⇧F | — |
What will feel familiar
Native
Opens .md and .txt files from Finder with Open With → kayet.
Spell check
Native macOS spelling underlines, without autocorrect rewriting your words.
Where kayet is different
Plain text firstNo stray formatting, no RTF. What you type is exactly what is saved.
Markdown built inSmart lists, emphasis shortcuts, live preview and export to HTML and PDF.
Folders, tabs and searchA workspace file tree, tabs that persist and search across every file.
Never lose a wordUnsaved changes are backed up as you type.
When TextEdit is the better choice
kayet does less on purpose. Stay with TextEdit if:
- You need rich text with fonts, colors and embedded tables.
- You only open a text file once in a while and don't want to install anything.
Questions
What is a good TextEdit alternative for Markdown?
kayet is a free, open-source Mac editor for Markdown and plain text, with a live preview, file tree, tabs, workspace search and HTML / PDF export.
Can kayet open TXT files?
Yes. kayet opens plain text, Markdown and source code files.
Start writing.
Free and open source. Requires macOS on Apple Silicon.
Download for Mac
Signed and notarized. Release notes & previous versions.
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TextEdit is a trademark of its respective owner. kayet is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of TextEdit. The comparison reflects publicly available information as of October 2026 and may change.